Mary
Mary, a native of Rockford, Illinois, attended DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois where she received her BA in Secondary Art Education. In 2007, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa after accepting a position as a high school visual arts teacher with the Cedar Rapids Community School District. She and her husband, Collin, who is a teacher in the Iowa City Community School District, reside in Cedar Rapids with their daughters, Zoey and Munroe. Zoey is five and Munroe will be turning one in October 2016. In addition to being a full time mommy, full time teacher, and writer for the mom’s blog, she is also a professional artist who has shown and published works both nationally and internationally. Mary enjoys traveling, painting, and most of all, spending time with her family.
A New Perspective this Holiday Season: Winter Holidays Around the World
Feliz Navidad!
This year we will be spending our first Christmas overseas in Madrid, Spain. It’s been a mixture of emotions–excitement for new traditions but also sadness for being so far away from family. Either...
My Experience With Socialized Healthcare
During our second month living as expats in Madrid, we were faced with our first experience with socialized healthcare. When living in the States we often heard that socialized care meant long wait times,...
Finding Our New Community: Advice From an Expat
It has now been a month since our move to Madrid, Spain. We've moved into our home, started our jobs, and our girls have started school.
Let me start by saying that as much as...
Visit Chicago Like a Local: Download This Interactive Guide
A popular destination for many Iowan families is the Windy City: Chicago. Many Iowans find themselves spending a few days in this popular destination, one of the biggest major cities in the Midwest, especially during...
Staying in Touch Junior Style: A Safe Instant Messenger for Kids
June 1st of 2018 was not only the day that we closed on our house, but it was also the last day of school, the last day to say goodbye to friends, and the...
Moving Overseas? Advice From a Soon to be Expat – Part 2
We are now about 2.5 months out from moving our family to Madrid, Spain. We’ve put in for leaves of absence at work, and all of our family, closest of friends, and coworkers have been...
Becoming an EXPAT: Moving My Family to Spain (Part 1)
On August 11th, 2018, my husband, two daughters, and I will be moving to Madrid, Spain. We will officially be referred to as “expats.” I had no idea what an expat was until I...
Changing Your Dating Routine: 3 Rules For Spicing Up Your Dates
We all hear about the honeymoon stage in a relationship. We go through it during the early stages of dating, it’s rekindled after the engagement, and then we see that blissful time once again...
Simple Ideas For Kids to Give Back in the Community
It’s not uncommon for my family to give back, especially during the holiday season. Whether it be sponsoring a family in need, donating toys, or simply just baking cookies for those in our lives,...
Beyond the Toy Box: 6 Unique, Untraditional Gift Ideas
It’s that time of year again! There's a crispness in the air, Christmas music playing on the radio, a hot cup of cocoa in hand, and a long list of names for your holiday...